Around 80 Koreans unaccounted for in Cambodia: foreign ministry

Mugshots of three suspects indicted for the murder of a 22-year-old Korean university student in Cambodia / Courtesy of Cambodian National Police

Around 80 Korean nationals in Cambodia remain unaccounted for as of August, according to Seoul's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as the government moves to address a surge in crimes targeting Koreans in the Southeast Asian nation.

Officials in Seoul have expressed alarm over a surging number of reports involving organized crime rings engaged in online scams and kidnappings of Koreans.

"From January to August this year, a total of 330 cases were filed through the Korean Embassy in Cambodia. These include reports submitted by the individuals themselves or by their families and acquaintances in Korea. As of August, about 260 of those cases have been closed," a foreign ministry official said Tuesday during a closed-door briefing.

A case is considered closed once authorities confirm that the individual is no longer being detained, whether as a result of the perpetrators’ arrest by local police, the individual securing their own freedom or reestablishing contact with family or acquaintances.

The official also added that among 220 cases reported in 2024, nearly 95 percent have been resolved, leaving about 10 cases still under review.

Including recent reports filed this year, roughly 80 cases remain open.

The ministry is cross-checking its data with figures from the National Police Agency, which announced earlier in the day that it has received 143 reports of missing or detained Koreans in Cambodia since last year, with 52 cases still unresolved.

According to witnesses and survivors, many of the victims were lured through online ads promising high salaries for work such as interpretation, data entry or social media management, with relocation and other costs covered. After arriving, they found themselves held captive, forced to take part in online scams or extortion schemes.

But not all Koreans in such situations are believed to be victims, authorities said.

Dozens have been detained by Cambodian police for allegedly voluntarily participating in online scam operations.

According to the foreign ministry, about 90 Koreans were arrested during raids on scam compounds in Cambodia in July and September. They are subject to deportation, and some have begun returning home, leaving about 60 still in custody there.

Seoul is in talks with Phnom Penh to expedite the repatriation of these individuals, who are expected to face legal proceedings upon their return to Korea.

"It is very difficult to draw a clear line between suspects and victim. We are still in the process of gathering more information," the ministry official said.

These developments come as the Korean government faces growing pressure to take a tougher stance toward Cambodia amid criticism that Phnom Penh has shown little urgency in investigating or preventing such crimes.

After the death of a Korean university student in Cambodia in August — revealed publicly two months later — Seoul has moved to strengthen protections for its citizens abroad. But progress has been slow, particularly in establishing effective cooperation with local law enforcement.

Fresh reports of missing Koreans have added to the concern.

Street vendors are seen in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Tuesday. Yonhap

On Tuesday, police said they were investigating another case involving a man in his 30s who went missing after losing contact with his family on Aug. 22, three days after arriving in Cambodia.

"It is true that cooperation between police agencies is not as smooth with Cambodia as it is with other Southeast Asian countries," Yoo Jae-sung, acting commissioner general of the National Police Agency, said at a press briefing Monday. "We are continuing our efforts in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant authorities."

Cambodian authorities have maintained that criminal reports must be filed directly by victims, a policy that has made investigations difficult when victims are detained or unable to make contact.

As law enforcement authorities prepare to dispatch investigators to Cambodia, the Korean government is seeking to establish a "Korea desk" within the country.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, right, shakes hands with Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn during a bilateral meeting in New York, Sept. 24 (local time), on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. Courtesy of Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The proposal would station Korean police officers within a Cambodian law enforcement agency to handle cases involving Korean nationals. But this plan could take weeks or even months to implement.

Some lawmakers in Seoul are calling for stronger and more immediate diplomatic action toward Cambodia.

Rep. Lee Un-ju of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea said the government should not rule out the possibility of military intervention if diplomatic efforts fail.

"We must demonstrate to the international community that anyone who commits crimes or terrorism against Koreans will be punished to the fullest," she wrote on Facebook Monday. "If the Cambodian government fails to respond promptly, we should consider military measures to protect our nationals."

Some have suggested using foreign aid as leverage. Cambodia is one of the largest recipients of official development assistance from Korea, with about 400 billion won ($290 million) allocated for 2025.